Hull 0 Chelsea 2, October 1

Chelsea 3 Leicester 0, October 15

It is remarkable to recall now that before this win over the reigning Premier League champions, some bookmakers had suspended betting on manager Antonio Conte to be sacked. Costa scored an early opener, Eden Hazard doubled the lead before half-time and Victor Moses, suddenly a key player as a wing-back in Conte's new formation, rounded off the win.

Manchester City 1 Chelsea 3, December 3

Cahill's own goal left Chelsea with work to do but he redeemed himself with a goal-line clearance before Costa brilliantly equalised, Willian and Hazard sealed victory and a late City meltdown saw Sergio Aguero and Fernandinho sent off.

Chelsea 1 West Brom 0, December 11

Sunderland 0 Chelsea 1, December 14

Cesc Fabregas scored the only goal five minutes before half time but it took a brilliant late save by Thibaut Courtois to deny Patrick van Aanholt an equaliser and take the winning sequence into double figures.

Chelsea 3 Bournemouth 0, December 26

Chelsea 4 Stoke 2, December 31

Goals from Cahill and Willian were cancelled out by Bruno Martins Indi and Peter Crouch as Chelsea conceded as many goals as in their previous 12 games. The Brazilian scored again, though, before Costa added a late fourth.

Five statistical points from Chelsea's run

Nine different Chelsea players have scored during the run. Costa leads the way with nine goals, with Hazard adding seven, Pedro five and Willian four.

The Blues' average winning margin has surprisingly been higher against seemingly stronger opposition. Against teams beginning their match in the top half of the Premier League table, they have won by an average of 2.57 goals per game, including the four against Manchester United and five against Everton. Against opposition in the bottom half, that falls significantly to 1.67 with three of their six such wins coming by 1-0 scorelines.

Average winning margin (goals)

2.57

vs top-half teams

1.67

vs bottom-half teams

Six players - goalkeeper Courtois, defenders Cahill, David Luiz and Cesar Azpilicueta and wing-backs Alonso and Moses - have been ever-present in the run. They have combined to keep 10 clean sheets along the way.

Seven others - Kante, Fabregas, Nemanja Matic, Willian, Pedro, Hazard and Costa - have started games, with seven others appearing as substitutes to make a total of 20 players used in the 13 games. Club captain John Terry has made just one brief appearance, for six minutes plus stoppage time against Everton.